Journal stop assembly



' 0a. 29, 1968 A HNNEY 3,408,121

JOURNAL STOP ASSEMBLY Original Filed June 6, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l FBG. I

INVENTOR. RICHARD A. PINNEY A TTORNE Y5.

1968 R. A. PINNEY JOURNAL STOP ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Original Filed June 5, 1964 FIG. 5

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FIG.6

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RICHARD A. PINNEY A TTORNEYS'.

United States Patent 3,408,121 JOURNAL STOP ASSEMBLY Richard A. Pinney, 200 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60604 Continuation of application Ser. No. 372,813, June 5, 1964. This application May 11, 1967, Ser. No. 643,005

7 Claims. (Cl. 308-40) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A convertible journal stop assembly is disclosed for use with ribbed or non-ribbed journal boxes, the assembly including a pair of block-shaped stop portions and a blanket portion integrally connected to the same and arranged to rest within the bottom of a journal box to underlie a conventional journal lubricator. Each block-shaped portion has a laterally open groove adjacent the journal box wall for endwise reception of a filler core which is to be used when the assembly is disposed in a non-ribbed journal box.

This application is filed as a continuation of copending application Ser. No. 372,813, filed June 5, 1964 and now abandoned.

This invention relates to a journal stop assembly and more particularly to an improved journal stop assembly for limiting the transverse and lateral movement of journals in railway cars.

In order to prevent hot boxes caused by lubricantsat-urated waste employed in the railway journal boxes working between the bearing, or brass, as it is called, various types of journal stops or guides have been provided. The purpose of these journal stops is to limit the transverse and lateral movement of the journals. Without such a device, when the car brakes are applied, due to the momentum of the car, there is relative movement between the car journal and the bearing causing the bearing and journal to separate or open up on one side and permit the lubricant-saturated waste to enter this space and overheat to the point where it ignites, causing the hot box. In some cases jolts may be so severe that the bearing may even be shifted from its proper position.

While the journal stops provided heretofore have alleviated these conditions somewhat they still possess various disadvantages. The journal stops or guides as they are sometimes called, are usually mounted between the diametrically opposed sides of the axle journal and the juxtaposed side wall of the journal box in which it is positioned. Previously journal stops or guides were mounted in the journal box by disassembling the structure and securing the stops to the side walls of the journal box by welding, riveting, bolting or my machining the journal box to provide a support for the stops. All such means were not only costly but time-consuming as well.

The majority of these journal stops were made of brass, which due to the presence of copper, contributed to oxidation and resultant hardening of the lubricator core material and thus a decrease in lubricator performance.

Another disadvantage of previous journal stops made of bronze and other non-ferrous materials, such as aluminum, is the inter-granular penetration of copper into the journal, and although the same elfect is produced from using bronze journal bearings the use of these materials for journalstops magnifies the detrimental factors.

Other disadvantages of the various materials used heretofore is excessive flaking or chipping during the wearingin period, depositing of abrasive material on the journal from which it migrates to points under the bearing or on top of the lubricator resulting in troublesome interruptions in lubrication, mushrooming with permanent loss of original shape, and tendencies for internal stresses to set up in the materials producing fatigue with resultant fractures and breakage. j

I have found that it is possible to provide an improved journal stop assembly which will, prevent undue transverse and axial movement of the journal and either eliminate or greatly minimize the disadvantages of the prior art.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a railway journal stop assembly which retains the waste or other lubricating packing inits proper operating position.

Another object is to provide a railway journal stop assembly which may be easily applied to existing journal boxes.

Further objects are to provide railway journal stop which will retain their original shape and dimension for a substantially longer period than heretofore possible.

A further object is to provide railway journal stops which will not cause inter-granular penetration into the journal resulting in journal failure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a journal stop assembly which provides its own means of support and does not require welding, bolting, riveting or machining of the journal box housing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for minimizing the accumulation of metal fragments, grit and other impurities in the lubricator pad.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a journal stop assembly which may be used in both ribbed and non-ribbed journal boxes.

Other details, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings which accompany and form part of the specification, and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section of a journal box containing one form of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of one form of the journal stop assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view taken on line AA of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a vertical section of a ribbed journal box containing one form of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section of a non-ribbed journal box containing a modified form of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view similar to FIG. 3 of a modified form of the invention for use in ribbed and non-ribbed boxes;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the filler core used in one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view taken on line BB of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a blown up view of a segment of the journal stop assembly as shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to the drawing in FIG. 1, the numeral 10 designates a journal box carried by the conventional side frame 12 of a railway car truck. This journal box has a top 14, side walls 16 and 18, and a curved bottom '20. A journal 22 extends through the dust guard Well (not shown) into the journal box.

A hearing member 24, a segment of which is shown in FIGURES 1, 4 and 5, commonly known as the brass engages the top surface of the journal and a member (not shown), commonly known as the wedge is positioned between the brass and the top 14 of the journal box.

All of the foregoing parts are conventional as to design, construction and function and are so well known as to require no further description.

The journal stops of the present invention are positioned on each vertical side 16 and 18 of the journal box and extend. from the side walls of the journal box to close proximity to the bearing portion of the journal 22.

In a preferred form of the invention each journal stop comprises two blocks 28 and. 30. connected by an integral arm 32. Each block 28 and 30 may have a flat vertical journal engaging surface or may have a journal-facing surface which is curved to engage the curve of the journal.

The blocks, 28 and .30 which are of suflicient size to withstand the impact of the journal inthe railway car in normal use, are spaced sufficiently far apart so as not to interfere with the freeflow of oil along the central portion of the journal.

-While the blocks. could beof any suitable material softer than the steel of the journal, such as brass, bronze, aluminum, and even plastic such as Teflon and nylon, after many years of experimenting with and road testing virtually every conceivable material .for .journal stops, including bronze, aluminum, plastic, nylon, rubber and their various compositions, Iv have found that rubber is most suitable and best complements the function of the journal box components. Rubber does not, as do other materials, contaminate the lubricant, score the journal, cause inter-granular penetration of copper into the journal, or tend to mushroom and deform.

The journal stops are connected, one to each end of a U-shaped, elongated flexible member 34 of rubber or the like. The U-shaped member 34 is so adapted as to be positioned in the concave curved bottom 20 of the journal box with its elongated ends extending upward along the side walls 16 and 18 respectively, thus providing support for the journal stops and maintaining them secured in their proper position.

The portion 36 of the U-shaped member 34 coming into contact with the curved bottom 20 of the journal box (see FIG. 3) is serrated or saw-tooth in shape to eliminate any slippage or tendency for the journal stop assembly to shift its position.

Taking into account the fact that lubricator pads are customarily reversible to enhance their life, unlike previous journal box assemblies where the lubricator pad or waste is directly in contact with the curved bottom 20 of the journal box and as a result fragments of metal, grit and other .impurities collected in the bottom of the lubricator pads prevent adequate lubrication especially when the pads are later reversed, in the present invention the lubricator pad is not allowed to come into contact with the bottom 20 of the journal box but rests on the U-shaped member 34 which is positioned in between it and the bottom of the journal box. The plurality of openings 38 in and the saw-tooth shaped portion 36 of the U-shaped member 34 provide an adequate area for any fragments of metal, grit or other impurities to settle and collect without becoming entrapped in the lubricator pad.

Two pairs of flexible lugs 40 and 42 are also provided on the U-shaped member 34 in order to provide stabilization for the lubricator pad thus preventing any shifting of the pad which might impair the lubrication of the journal.

Since some joumal boxes are formed with longitudinal ribs 44 and 46 (see FIG. 4) which extendhorizontally along the inner surfaces of the walls 16 and 18, in order to provide a journal stop assembly which may be used in both ribbedand non-ribbed boxes, one embodiment of the present invention provides removable filler cores 48 in and across the back of the stop blocks 28 and 30 and the integral arm 32 (see FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9). The filler core 48 is approximately the same size as the ribs 44 and 46, so that when it is removed from the journal stop assembly the ribs fit into the vacated area and the back of the stop blocks abut against the side walls 16 and 18. An interlocking tongue 50 and groove 52 is provided in the filler core and the journal stops respectively in order to secure the filler core 48 in place when the journal stop assembly is used in a nonribbed journal box as shown in FIG. 5.

With the present invention rather than having to disassemble and weld, rivet, bolt, or machine the box to provide support for the journal stops I merely, jack up the journal box 10; remove the Wedge 26 and bearing 24; lower the journal box 10 and remove the lubricator or w asteyinser't the journal stop assembly 14 forcing it to the rear of the journal box, positioning each side against the sides of the box 16 and '18; re-insert the lubricator; jack the box; re-insert the bearing and wedge, and in less than three minutes the installation is complete.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I am able to attain all the objects of my invention and provide an easy-to-install improved journal stop assembly which will limit the axial and transverse movement of the railway car journal and also provide adequate means to insure proper and adequate lubricationiand long life of the journal box.

The invention may be embodied in other specifi forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A journal stop assembly for limiting the lateral movement of a railway car journal within ribbed and non-ribbed journal boxes comprising a pair of journal stops each having a pair of impactblocks spaced to engage the journal and a reduced portion rigidly connecting said blocks, said blocks and said reduced portion having a groove portion that is open towards an adjacent journal box wall, a separate filler core insertable within the groove portion of each journal stop to engage the adjacent journal box wall'when the assembly is disposed in a non-ribbed journal box, said filler core being easily removable so that said impact blocks and said reduced portion-may be adapted to fit around the rib and abut the inside side wall of a ribbed journal box, said journal stops adapted to be positioned one at each side of the journal, a flexible structure connecting said journal stops,

said flexible structure including a serrated portion for preventing any shift in position of the journal stops, lugs connected to said flexible structure for the stabilization of lubricant material used in wiping lubricant on the journal, and a plurality of openings in said flexible structure for collecting metal particles, grit and other impurities.

2. A journal stop assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said journal stops are made of rubber.

3. A journal stop assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein all the components of said journal stop assembly are made of rubber. I

4. A journal stop assembly for limiting the lateral movement of a railway car journal within ribbed and nonribbed journal boxes comprising a pair of journal stops and a flexible structure connected to and extending between said stops, said journal stops each including a groove portion that is open towards an adjacent journal box wall, a separate removable filler core insertable within the groove potrion of each journal stop to engage the adjacent journal box wall when the assembly is disposed in a non-ribbed journal box having a tongue interlocking with the groove portion in said journal stop, whereby when the filler core is removed from said assembly the assembly may be utilized in a ribbed journal box, with the ribs extending into the journal stops and the journal stops abutting the side walls of the journal box.

5. A journal stop for limiting the lateral movement of a railway car journal Within a journal box comprising a pair of impact blocks spaced to engage the journal and a reduced portion rigidly connecting said blocks, said blocks and said reduced portion having a groove portion that is open towards an adjacent journal box wall, a removable filler core insertable Within the groove portion of each journal stop to engage the adjacent journal box wall when the assembly is disposed in a non-ribbed journal box whereby when said filler core is removed, said impact blocks and said reduced portions may fit around the rib and abut the inside wall of a ribbed journal box.

6. A journal stop as defined in claim 5 wherein said filler core includes a tongue for interlocking with the groove in said impact blocks and said reduced portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 11/1952 Canada.

MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, Primary Examiner.

7. A journal stop as defined in claim 6 wherein said 15 G-N-BAUM,ASSiStlllllExamillerimpact blocks and said filler core are made of rubber. 

